ST NEWS Disk Magazine

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

"Often,  one is warned that upward compatibility is only provided
when one restricts to the 'documented parts' of the ST.  How  can
one, being a beginner on the ST, know what is documented and what
isn't?  Buying  all  literature is a somewhat unfriendly  way  of
getting to know this."
                                   J. Renet, Geleen, Netherlands

If you want to know precisely what is documented and what  isn't,
I  suggest  you  buy  Data  Becker's  "ST  Intern".   There,  all
legal addresses are documented.  In ST NEWS, quite some attention
is  given  to  undocumented  system  variables  or   undocumented
addresses,  but a warning is always published. Using undocumented
stuff isn't really too bad,  but you'll have to prepare  yourself
for updating your program about every time a new machine  version
appears. In ST NEWS, I use one illegal address: The address where
I  can  check the disk drive write protect  status  (the  program
refuses  to work on a non-write-protected disk).  If you want  to
know  more about system variables,  just refer to the part of  ST
NEWS where the ordering of back-issues is explained and order the
one with article about 'undocumented system variables'. Since you
have a MEGA ST,  I must warn you that many of those addresses are
for  old  TOS versions only.  In later issues,  I have  tried  to
discover  at least SOME of the new addresses,  but that  list  is
quite  incomplete.  I  don't think there are any  official  books
apart from Atari ST GEM by Data Becker (again, old TOS) that have
undocumented variables listed.
                                   Richard Karsmakers

"I have serious problems with the 'Uniterm' program.  When  using
the  program 'off-line',  I can type the hatch sign  (#)  without
difficulty. But when I am on-line, and calling Prestel at 1200/75
baud, I cannot succeed in keying it. Who can help?"
                                   Frank Barker
                                   Broomsford Manor
                                   Nr. Jacobstowe
                                   Devon EX20 3RH
                                   England

Disclaimer
The text of the articles is identical to the originals like they appeared in old ST NEWS issues. Please take into consideration that the author(s) was (were) a lot younger and less responsible back then. So bad jokes, bad English, youthful arrogance, insults, bravura, over-crediting and tastelessness should be taken with at least a grain of salt. Any contact and/or payment information, as well as deadlines/release dates of any kind should be regarded as outdated. Due to the fact that these pages are not actually contained in an Atari executable here, references to scroll texts, featured demo screens and hidden articles may also be irrelevant.

Questions & Answers